STUDY ON MEDICATION APPROPRIATENESS AMONG GERIATRICS IN TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Abstract

Introduction: Older patients are considered as special population, the pharmaceutical care with focus of increasing medication appropriateness and reducing medication related problems is needed. Elderly patients have a higher prevalence of chronic and multiple illness and physiological changes associated with aging may masquerade as illness. Aim & Objectives: To assess and evaluate the drug prescribing pattern and inappropriate prescribing by using beers criteria 2015 among Geriatric patients. Materials & Methodology: A prospective observational study was conducted in general medicine out-patient department, SVRRGGH, Tirupati for period of 6months.The patients of general medicine out-patient department with age above 65yrs old were included in the study. The Patients who are not willing to participate in the study, inpatients and terminally ill patients were excluded from the study. Results & Discussion: Among 200 patients, distribution of age majority of the patients is male (71%) followed by females (29%), Most of patients have multiple diseases (64%) followed by Single disease (29%). All potentially inappropriate medicines (PIMS) are classified as category A, B, C. Drugs have to be avoided in geriatric patients (Category A) being the most common category of inappropriate as per Beers criteria updated by American Geriatric Society 2015.Our study reported 174 drugs as PIMs. Conclusion: It is also necessary to improve the geriatric care, as this age group possess risk for many diseases and medication use. In future a multidisciplinary approach, steps to be taken involving physicians, nurses and pharmacists has a team for bringing out rational drug use in geriatric population.